Warning to anglers planning to fish Bird Creek south of Anchorage this week: at least two brown bears have taken up residence in the upper end of the creek and have charged multiple fishermen in the area.
There’s an unconfirmed report of at least one angler shooting at a bear when it had charged within a few feet.
More silver salmon as well as lots of pinks are now entering the creek, which is popular with Anchorage fishermen. But it also has a history of bear-fishermen conflicts at the upper end, which shallow water makes it easy for the bears to corral fish.
If you plan to fish Bird, be vigilant and prepared with at least bear spray or a firearm if you are capable of using it for self defense. If bears appear, give them room, move back downstream to the highway bridge or get out of the creek entirely.
Given this summer’s incredibly bad luck with multiple maulings and two fatalities already, there’s no reason to tempt fate. Better yet, go north to Ship Creek or south to Seward or the Kenai and avoid the bears entirely.
